Information for Drunk Driving Accident Victims

Posted By The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC || 4-Dec-2017

Drunk driving causes thousands of accidents and hundreds of thousands of
injuries every year. If you have been unfortunate enough to be one of
those victims, you may be wondering what options you have available to
you when it comes to getting help with the treatment you need and recovering
the damages you have sustained. Look no further—on this blog we’ll
go over the basic things you need to know about drunk driving accident
claims, what steps you should take, and your rights as a victim.

Get Medical Attention ASAP

Some people mistakenly feel as though it’s better for them to wait
to receive medical attention after a car accident because they’re
either uninsured or unsure if their insurance will cover their injuries.
Unfortunately this is usually not a good decision: a serious injury left
untreated can only get worse, and you may suffer even more serious consequences that
could have been prevented. Always see a medical professional as soon as possible.

Obtain Info from Witnesses

If you have been injured, whenever possible ask to receive a copy of the
police report for your incident and get all important information from
all drivers involved, including names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance
policy numbers, license plate numbers, and driver’s license numbers.
Any passengers involved in the incident as well as anyone who saw the
accident can also be beneficial to your case, so make sure you get their
info as well as soon as possible.

Know Your Rights

As an injury victim, you may be pressured by insurance companies to give
a statement as soon as possible after the accident, often while things
are still hazy and you can’t fully recall all of the relevant and
important details of the incident. This is by design: insurance companies
know that the more they can get you to leave out, the harder it will be
for you to prove that the driver at fault is responsible for your injuries.
You have the right to have an Austin auto accident attorney at your side
when giving any statements about your accident, so exercise this right
before speaking to an insurance adjustor.

Collect Evidence

While insurance companies will collect statements, you can do everything
in your power to collect evidence that supports your claims and can solve
discrepancies in your case. Pictures are a great form of evidence, including
pictures of any relevant traffic control devices in your accident, skid
marks, damage to your car, and even pictures of any visible injuries.